Summary
Abonnema, originally known as Nyemoni (which means "covet your own" in the Kalabari dialect of the Ijaw language), is a large town in the Kalabari Kingdom that was founded in 1882. Its territory was discovered by an expedition of eleven war canoe chieftaincy houses from the Kalabari city-state (Elem Kalabari).
History edit
Abonnemma was founded in 1882 by eleven Chiefs, namely: - Bobmanuel - Head Chief of the Manuel Group of Houses, Young Briggs - Head Chief of Briggs Group of Houses, Akpana Georgewill - Head Chief of Otaji Group of Houses, Kala-Dokubo - Head Chief of Jack Group of Houses, Granville Don Pedro, Douglas Manuel, Black Duke, Bestman Briggs, Young Jack, Young Don Pedro, Member Briggs. While the Briggs Group of Houses sailed as a group and landed together, the other Chiefs sailed differently and berthed at different times; none accompanied the other. Chief Bobmanuel was chosen as the Chairman and Amadabo based on the age of the stool he arrived with, and over time, the title of the stool changed to Amanyanabo following the recognition of the stool as a first-class stool by the Rivers State Government. In the absence of Chief Bobmanuel, incumbent of the Owukori Stool, the next stool in the hierarchy functions and operates as the Amanyanabo based on the time-honoured recognition of primus inter pares.
Chief Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel, Owukori IX is the current Ananyanabo of Abonnema. <Abonnema Centenary brochure - 1982 >
Abonnema today edit
Abonnema grew to become a flourishing major Nigerian seaport during the colonial era. It was host to many European companies. One such company was the Royal Niger Company, which later metamorphosed into U.A.C.
Abonnema is the headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State in Nigeria.
Notable people edit
Chief Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel, Owukori IX, Lawyer, Amayanabo of Abonnnema
- Henry Odein Ajumogobia, federal minister of Nigeria
- Tammy Danagogo, De-General E-Processing Center
- A. Igoni Barrett, writer
- O.B. Lulu Briggs, philanthropist, statesman and business mogul[1]
- Nimi Briggs, academic
- Prof. Angela Ine Frank Briggs.
Child Neurologist and Academic.
- Roseberry Briggs, politician
- Disreal Bobmanuel, King of Abonnema[2]
- Patrick Dele Cole, ambassador to Brazil[3]
- Dumo Lulu-Briggs, business magnate, Philanthropist and politician[4] [5]
- Tonye Cole, business magnate and politician
- Reynolds Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, politician
- Sumner Dagogo-Jack
- Rowland Sekibo, Politician and philanthropist
- Prof. Raphael S. Oruamabo. Paediatrician and Academic
- Agbani Darego, first native African to win Miss World
- Ibife Alufohai, winner, Miss Valentine International 2010 and Founder of Miss Polo International
- Alabo Graham-Douglas, politician
- Bikiya Graham-Douglas
- Nabo Graham-Douglas, SAN, Federal Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice
- Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte JSC,CON,CFR
Judge,Supreme Court of Nigeria(1984-2002)
Judge of the United Nations (International Criminal Court- International Criminal Tribunal for The Former Yugoslavia- 1993-1998
References edit
- ^ "Chief Olu Benson Lulu Briggs: Philanthropist with deep passion for development". Vanguard News. 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
- ^ "Disrael Gbobo Bobmanuel". guardian.ng. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
- ^ "What are the Origins of Nigeria". guardian.ng. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
- ^ "Dumo Lulu-Briggs". bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
- ^ "DLBAbout - Chief (Barr) Dumo Lulu-Briggs". dumolulu-Briggs.org. Archived from the original on 2020-08-14. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
Further reading edit
- Abonnema at Encyclopædia Britannica
- https://okadabooks.com/book/about/trigger_happy/29051
- http://AbonnemaFoundation.org/
- https://www.nationalnetworkonline.com/interiews/7524-from-wig-to-crown-celebrations-galore-as-amanyanabo-of-abonnema-marks-10-years-on-the-throne/ Archived 2023-04-08 at the Wayback Machine
- https://www.thenewswriterng.com/2014/04/04/court-confirms-king-disrael-bob-manuel-as-abonnema-monarch/
4°43′23″N 6°46′44″E / 4.7231169°N 6.7788461°E